We took UNSW’s expertise and innovations to Australian Parliament House again this year.
As part of UNSW’s 75th anniversary celebrations, UNSW’s pioneer innovators, researchers and educators demonstrated the positive societal impact they are making with their innovative solutions and groundbreaking research through an interactive showcase. It was also an opportunity to highlight the significant progress UNSW has driven sinice our foundation in 1949.
Vice-President Societal Impact, Equity & Engagement Professor Verity Firth opened the event and emphasised that while it’s exciting to see the wonderful work of our community being showcased, this event is not about us.
“It’s about partnership, progress and pathways to true societal impact,” she said.
“We want to connect you with some of Australia’s leading innovators, researchers and educators, and present opportunities for us to contribute to important national priorities.”
More than 150 guests attended the event including Members of Parliament, Senators, policy advisors, senior government department executives, members of the diplomatic corps and other influential stakeholders. The showcase included two sessions with a series of short talks by Members of Parliament, academics and two UNSW students, with a break after each for guests to explore the exhibits.
In the first session, the Hon. Matt Thistlethwaite MP, Assistant Minister for Immigration, Member for Kingsford Smith, spoke about his time at UNSW as a student and as an alumnus.
“It fills me with great pride to see UNSW back here in Parliament House as part of these 75th Anniversary celebrations. And to once again hear from all of UNSW’s leading innovators, researchers, and educators about the positive impact they’re making.
“It’s innovative solutions and groundbreaking research that starts in communities like Kensington, but that are truly changing the world today,” he said.
The Hon. Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education, Member for Blaxland and another valued alumnus, said that great universities change the world and UNSW is doing just that.
“This is a university that is focused on the future and helping to make that happen,” he said.
“It’s also a university that understands its inherent power to change lives.
“Two years ago, 10% of the students in the Law School were from disadvantaged backgrounds. Two years later it’s 20%. That’s change.”
Hon. Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education, Member for Blaxland speaking at the event.
Scientia Professor Toby Walsh, world leader in the field of AI and Chief Scientist of the UNSW AI Institute spoke about students being at the heart of what researchers do at UNSW, including keeping academics honest and their contribution to the wonderful environment that is UNSW. He also noted that we are currently experiencing the greatest gold rush in the history of humanity, collectively spending $1 billion a day on AI.
Exploring the exhibits
During the break, guests had the opportunity to explore the exhibits and connect with our academics. The research on show included:
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Vice-President Societal Impact, Equity & Engagement Professor Verity Firth, Deputy Speaker Sharon Claydon MP, Member for Newcastle, and UNSW’s Professor Caroline Ford who leads the Gynaecological Cancer Research Group.
The second session
The Hon. Paul Fletcher MP, Shadow Minister for Science and the Arts, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy, Member for Bradfield, opened the evening session with a speech congratulating UNSW on our 75th anniversary. He thanked UNSW academics for bringing their work and expertise to Parliament, and explaining their insights to parliamentarians.
The Hon. Dr Jim Chalmers MP, Treasurer, Member for Rankin, spoke about the transformative opportunity of lifelong learning, particularly how important higher education can be for social mobility in this country.
He noted the fascinating history of UNSW, having been established in 1949 to create our second economy as an industrial country by moving away from agriculture. The next challenge will be to build our third economy in the light of big shifts from globalisation to fragmentation, and the important role that universities will play in this.
One of the highlights of the evening was hearing from our two incredible students. Proud Wiradjuri woman and sixth year Medicine student Emily Thomson is planning to undertake a two-year residency at Wagga Wagga Hospital. Her inspiration to study Medicine stemmed from seeing the health inequities in rural and remote communities in Australia, particularly among First Nations people. This fuelled her eagerness to return to Country and give back to her community.
Our other inspiring student Angela Le, in her third year of a Bachelor of Commerce degree, spoke about her aspiration to become a management consultant in the field of sustainability and ESG, which aligns with her personal values and interests. Having received a UNSW Co-op Program Scholarship for Accounting and Finance, she said being able to work at leading companies alongside her studies has provided her with invaluable professional experience.
UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs with third year Commerce student Angela Le and sixth year Medicine student Emily Thomson.
Guests also enjoyed a UNSW Masterclass, where our academics shared some of their work and the profound impact it’s having on society with:
- Dani Alexander on powering a more sustainable future through the clean energy transition
- Professor Caroline Ford on new frontiers in cancer research
- Dr Stephanie Ward on innovative solutions to optimise ageing for individuals and our society
- Professor Jason Sharples on bushfire science.
UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs was delighted with the success of the second year of hosting the showcase at Australian Parliament House and thanked the participating academics and the organising team, particularly Government Relations and Operations, for their efforts in bringing ‘Powered by UNSW’ to life.
“I’m excited about this event because it’s a wonderful coming together – not only of us as colleagues and partners, but of ideas and of visions for Australia’s future. It’s designed to help make connections – bringing leaders and policymakers together with trusted experts.
“There are three fundamental values that we share. The first is our intrinsic purpose of public good. The second is the value of universities in building Australia’s future. And the third value is encapsulated in the revitalised National Science and Research Priorities.
“At UNSW, we have our sights set on progress for all – it’s a future-focused expression of ‘public good’ – the reason we began 75 years ago and the reason we’re here today.”
Pictured top: UNSW Professor Ben Newell (Psychology), UNSW Professor Lisa Alexander (Climatology), UNSW Knowledge Broker Angela Kaplish, Minister for the Environment the Hon. Tanya Plibersek MP and UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs.
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